AFC Bournemouth lose 3-1 away at Fulham

Fuham capitalised upon a slice of good luck when Lewis Cook slipped inside the area in the opening five minutes, allowing Bobby De Cordova-Reid to open scores, Rodrigo Muniz doubling the home side’s lead heading into the break.

Marcos Senesi briefly pulled one back but Muniz quickly restored Fulham’s two-goal cushion in a hectic start to the second half.

Cherries huffed and puffed for further goals, but were unable to find a way back into the contest.

Head coach Andoni Iraola made two changes to the side that played out a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert made way for Marcus Tavernier and Alex Scott respectively.

Philip Billing served the first of a three-match suspension incurred in that aforementioned draw, meaning he dropped out of the squad, whilst Enes Unal was named on the bench for the first time since his deadline day move from Getafe.

The hosts found themselves ahead in fortunate circumstances on five minutes.

A long ball over the top to Muniz looked to have been dealt with by the Cherries backline, but Cook slipped inside the box after intercepting a loose ball, turning over possession directly to De Cordova-Reid.

All that was required for the Fulham attacker was to stroke past with an anguished Cook looking on, strewn across the pitch.

Although it was misfortune that had put Fulham ahead, the Cottagers continued to look the more dangerous of the two teams.

Unmarked at the back post, Antonee Robinson fired off an effort that was initially on target, only to be diverted towards the Cherries goal by Illia Zabarnyi.

Neto managed a save but was caught in the chaos that ensued, Cherries clearing to keep the scoreline at 1-0 as their goalkeeper required treatment.

A neat one-two on the edge of the Cherries box unleashed winger Willian inside the backline.

However, the Brazilian found his compatriot Neto in fine form, the goalkeeper getting down well to push the effort away.

Cherries would slowly grow into the contest. Luis Sinisterra saw a curled effort from range batted away by Leno, with the resultant corner producing the away side’s best chance.

Tavernier’s corner dipped into the six-yard box, finding Dominic Solanke who had slipped his marker.

However, Cherries’ talisman could not find the required finish, slashing over the bar.

But despite showing signs of life, Cherries found themselves two behind on 37 minutes.

Willian’s whipped cross found De-Cordova Reid, goalscorer turning provider as he touched the ball down for the arriving Muniz.

Zabarnyi would have thought he had done enough to shield the ball, but the Fulham striker managed to nip ahead of the centre-back and poke past Neto to double the Cottagers’ lead.

Entering the break trailing by two Cherries made one sub, swapping left-back Lloyd Kelly for Milos Kerkez.

The start of the second period gave Cherries hope as they pulled one back.

Another Tavernier corner found Solanke, this time meeting the striker at the back post.

That allowed for the ball to be headed down to Senesi, who pirouetted and slammed home to halve the deficit.

But just a minute after Fulham managed to restore their margin.

Tom Cairney picked up possession on the half-way line and surged forward, finding a Cherries defence in disarray.

Muniz peeled off Senesi to wait in space at the back post, latching onto Cairney’s cross and firing home his second of the afternoon.

The rest of the contest saw Cherries earn a succession of corners, looking consistently threatening without breaching the Cottagers’ defence.

Unal was introduced off the bench for his Cherries debut as Iraola bolstered his attack, but there were little clear cut chances nor shooting opportunities as Fulham saw out their win.

In seven minutes of added time Cherries finally went close.

Substitute Semenyo narrowly blasted over before Kerkez's tempting ball across the face of goal went by without the requisite small touch needed for a goal.

Victory for Fulham allows the Cottagers to leapfrog Cherries in the Premier League table, rising to 12th as their opponents drop to 13th.

Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney (Reed, 63), Pereira (Ballo-Toure, 85), Willian (Traore, 85), De Cordova-Reid (Wilson, 63), Muniz (Broja, 74).

Unused subs: De Fougerolles, Lukic, King, Rodak (g/k).

Booked: Wilson.

Cherries: Neto, Smith (Faivre, 85), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly (Kerkez, h-t), Cook, Christie, Scott (Semenyo, 63), Tavernier (Unal, 69), Sinisterra (Ouattara, 69), Solanke.

Unused subs: Mepham, Sadi, Kluivert, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Solanke, Smith.

Attendance: 24,271.

Referee: Darren England.